Chariots of Fire was the first game I had purchased recently from GMT Games. The other game I purchased at that time was Carthage. Carthage is one of the games in the Ancient World Series. The first of that series, Rise of the Roman Republic, is out of print. Carthage being the second and most recent still is in print.

I’ve always (well, for the last 40 years anyway) had an interest in Carthage, the Phoenician colony on the North African coast. Carthage almost bought Rome to her knees before she was an established power. The struggles between Rome and Carthage produced two of the great captains in history – Hannibal and Scipio Africanus.

The game Carthage concentrates on the First Punic War. This was the precursor to the one made famous by Hannibal and Scipio. Indeed, it was in the First Punic War that Hannibal’s father fought and were the oath taken by the father on behalf of Hannibal was made, the oath that the Barcas would fight the Romans until they succeeded in destroying them.

The game components look good with two maps covering the main areas of conflict (Italy, North Africa and Sicily). There are over 1,000 counters in this game as well.

The game itself lists four scenarios. These are:

The Mercenary War, 241 B.C.

At the completion of the First Punic War over, the Carthaginian mercenaries in Sicily sought payment. They were sent back to Carthage where they were paid a small amount of what was owed to them and then they sere shipped off to Numidia.

After a while they revolted and massacred a number of officers then laid waste to Carthage. Some Libyans joined in the revolt. In the end Hanno was compelled to assemble an army of veterans and elephants to combat the mercenaries. Hamilcar Barca (Hannibal’s father) returned to Carthage from overseas as well with a mostly mounted second army and Navaras, a Numidian chieftain joined with Hanno to put down the revolt.

Agathocles, 311 B.C.

In this scenario the Carthaginians are fighting against Syracuse, led by the ambitious tyrant, Agathocles. This fighting was based around Agrigentum (Acragas).

Hiero, Hero or Gyro? 264–263 B.C.

This is an introductory scenario, simplified in its approach and what it involves. Very good for learning the game system.

The First Punic War, 264 to 241 B.C.

This is the full war – with the folks at GMT making the assumption that our game war will end at the same completion date of the First Punic War generally.